OPFOR NCO plays bad guys to help the good guys win

Sgt. Robert Murray, Delta Co., 1st Bn., 4th Inf. Regiment, prepares to have his military knowledge tested by a panel of senior noncommisioned officers during the 2009 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command's Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany in June. Murray was selected as the Soldier of the Year in a ceremony following the competition. He will represent the command in the U.S. Army, Europe Soldier of the Year competition in August.

Sgt. Robert Murray, Delta Co., 1st Bn., 4th Inf. Regiment, takes a short break before heading out for another field event during the 2009 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command's Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany in June. Murray's day job while in garrison is to play a bad guy, or opposing force (OPFOR), during realistic mission rehearsal exercises at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany.

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - At the Joint Multinational Readiness Center(JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany, Sgt. Robert Murray of Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, makes his money playing war games. He is a member of the professional opposing force at the JMRC

Murray is a tank-gunner and team leader. His unit has supported the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since 2004. It deploys a company-size unit, during each ISAF rotation to Afghanistan. When not deployed, the 1-4 helps to train U.S. and International Soldiers for deployments downrange.

He's no ordinary Soldier, Murray has deployed, but with the Navy, before he became a Soldier.

"I was on oil platforms off the coast of Iraq, and transferring from to ship to ship." said Murray "They were U.S. civilian ships that carried other ships."

Murray expects to deploy with the 1-4. He says they are well-trained, and he is glad to go downrange with the team.

"Before we deploy, the Company D, does a pre-op training. We keep going over and over the skills," he said. "We do battle drills, and everyone knows what to do without thinking."

Being prepared for deployment helped him win the 2009 Joint Multinational Training Command's Soldier of the Year Competition.

Murray will represent the JMTC at the U.S. Army Europe competition in August.

"NCOs take in everything you can and pass it on to your Soldiers, and be professional at all times," said Murray. "Good NCOs should be smart on their feet, and take care of his or her Soldiers to help them be their best."

The competition was great training, said Murray.

"At first, I was worried about competing, but when it started I just let my body go, and I just kept pushing," he said. "This is such a good training event because you realize your weaknesses.

He said the competition has made him more aware that others may be watching him more closely.

"A good NCO knows how to lead, and he knows how to take care of Soldiers," said Murray. "I can take what I've learned in the competition and go back to my Soldiers and mentor them."